HealthSheets™

Click a letter to see a list of conditions beginning with that letter.

Kidney Disease: Getting the Right Amount of Protein

One portion (3 to 4 ounces) of fish, chicken, or red meat is about the size of a deck of playing cards.

Your body needs protein to build and repair muscles and bones along with other important body functions. But as the body uses protein, a waste product (blood urea nitrogen or BUN) is produced. If your kidneys can’t filter wastes from your blood normally, the BUN level increases. If the level gets too high, you can become sick. Because of this, you need to control the amount of protein you eat each day. Use this handout to help you.

Measuring protein content

You know how many grams of protein to eat, but most food portions are measured in ounces. Use the chart below to help determine the protein content of some common foods.